Detergent-supplying means for dish washing machines



Aug. 7, 1951 J. T. P. LE GORE 2,563,652

DETERGENT SUPPLYING MEANS FOR DISH WASHING MACHINES Filed Feb. 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ;i INVENTOR 47 day/v I 2. 1.56026 I w 45 17 4a 46 I7 I oiaNEv Aug. 7, 1951 J. T. P. LE GORE 2,563,652

DETERGENT SUPPLYING MEANS FOR DISH WASHING-MACHINES Filed Feb. 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN r e LEGOEE BY I %E iORNEY 1951 J. T. P. LE GORE 2,563,652

DETERGENT SUPPLYING MEANS FOR DISH WASHING MACHINES Filed Feb. 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 irqll.

N INVENTOR JOHN m LEGOKC- I7 a ORNEY Aug. 7, 1951 J. T. P. LE GORE DETERGENT SUPPLYING MEANS FOR DISH WASHING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5, 1947 INVENTOR JOHN I f. LEGOEE A ORNEY Patented Aug. 7, 1951 DETERGENT- SUPPLYING MEANS FOR DISH WASHING MACHINES John T. 1. Le Gore, llingham, Mass.

Application February 5, 1947, Serial No. 726,707

3 Claims.

This invention relates to dishwashing machines and more particularly to a portable dishwashing machine which is adapted to be placed on a kitchen sink or drainboard and attached to the hot water faucet of the sink.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the above type having novel and improved details of construction and features of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above tvpe using detergent pellets and having improved feed means therefor.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

, 1 In accordance with the present invention the? dishwashing machine comprises a cabinet nav-1 ing doors on opposite sides through 'whichgthe' dish rack may be inserted. The edges of the 7 doors and the corresponding portions of the cabinet are provided with interlocking tongue and groove seals which prevent leakage without interfering with the free opening of the doors. A downwardly extending flange on the door provides a shield for the hinge line. Hence the necessity for rubber or other compressible sealing means is avoided.

The cabinet cointains upper and lower spinners of the reaction jet type having spray openings positioned to direct a water spray onto the 2 In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a dishwashing ma chine embodying the present invention showing the door closed;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine partly in section with the door removed to show the in-' terior;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view the spinner;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the spinner;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation oi the rack for supporting silverware to be washed;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view thereof; :J Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken on the line of Fig. 2 showing the interlocked tongue and a groove for sealing the edge of the door;

I Fig. 9 is a plan view of the dish rack;

I i Fig. 10 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the washing machine cabinet with one door open;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the pellet i'eed and control valve;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation thereof; and

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken onthe line I4l4 of Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings more in detail the cabinet is shown as comprising a bottom member l0, sides II and top l2. The ends are closed by doors I3 which are attached by hinges ll to a bottom closure strip l5 and are provided with when the control valve is opened. The pellet is teristic of this invention are pointed but more particularly in the claims, the naturefof the invention will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a specific embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

handles IS. The doors I 3 are provided at each end of the machine so that the dish rack may be inserted from either side, thereby avoiding the necessity for making the machine in left and right hand models. The machine is supported on page ll which are attached to the bottom III by suitable means indicated as bolts It. It will be noted that the upper corners are bevelled, thereby imparting additional rigidity to the structure.

As shown more in detail in Fig. 8 the edges of the side members II are bent over to provide a strengthening flange 20 from which positioning lugs 2| are struck. A flange 22 is positioned over the lugs 2| and is secured by tongues 23 formed on the ends of the lugs 2| which are bent over for locking the flange 22 in place. The flange 22 is provided with a lip 24 at the rear which extends around the end of the flange 20 into contact with the side member II. The flanges 20 and 22 are spaced by the lugs 21 to provide a channel therebetween in which an inturned flange 28 formed on the edge of the door l3 extends for providing a water seal. The flanges 20 and 22 and the flange 28 extend completely around the door opening except for the bottom where the door is hinged. Along thebottom edge the door is provided with a flange '29 which extends over the hinge line and shields the same from the spray within the casing. The doors |3 are provided with arcuate brackets 38 (Fig. 11) which extend through slots 3| formed in the lip 24 of the flange 22 and are provided at their inner ends with ears 32 which engagethe back of the lip 24' to provide a stop to hold the door in horizontal position when open. 3

The door is provided with a pair of rails 33 which may be secured by the door handle screws 33a (Fig. 2) and, when the door is open, are

the same height as wire runners 34 which are formed as a wire loop and are removably secured within the cabinet to carry the dish rack. The runners 34 may be frictionally secured in the cabinet and may be readily removed for cleaning. The rails 33 and runners 34 provide means for resting the dish rack on the open door and sliding the same easily into the cabinet. The runners support the rack above the lower spinner to be described.

The bottom I8 is provided with a drain opening 48 (Fig. 3) beneath which a plate 4| (Figs. 3 and 11) is attached by screws 42. The screws 42 are equally spaced around the, drain opening 48 so that the plate 4| may be attached to extend toward any of the four sides of the cabinet. The plate 4| is provided with side rails 43 (Figs. 1, 2 and 11) forming a track in which flanges 44 of a. drain trough 45 slide. The drain trough 45 is provided with a closed end 46 which engages a flange 41 on the plate 4| to position the trough. The trough 45 is thus made removable so that it may be readily cleaned and may also be extended or retracted according to the overhang required.

Top and bottom spinners 58 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) comprise hollow arms 5| carried in heads 52 which are mounted to rotate on coupling members 53 which are attached to sockets 54 on the ends of pipes 55. The pipes 55 extend aroundthe side of the cabinet and are attached to a coupling 56 which extends through the side wall The coupling members 53 are arranged to screw into the sockets 54 so that the-spinners 58 may be readily removed. The arms 5| are provided with a plurality of spray openings 68 which are adapted to spray wash water onto the articles within the cabinet. As shown in Fig. 4 the openings 68 on the two sides of the axis of rotation of the spinners are staggered in a radial direction so that the spray circles produced as the spinners rotate are interleaved, thereby producing a more uniform spray coverage. At their ends the spinners 58 are provided with reaction openings 8| through which a reaction jet is discharged for causing the spinners to rotate. A plurality of reaction openings 5| may be provided at different radial distances from the ends of the spinners and a stud 63 may be threaded into the end of the spinners to seal the same and to close ofi the desired number of the openings 62, thereby providing means for adjusting the number of reaction jets used. in any particular installation. Such adiustment is provided in order to adapt the device for use with water of different pressures encountered in the various domestic installations.

the case of the lower spinner and in an upwardly inclined direction in the case of the upper spinner. The arrangement is such that the reaction jets on the bottom spinner hit the casing below the hinge line. thereby eliminating'the possibility of the water being forced through the hinge opening to the outside of the cabinet.

The coupling member 56 communicatesthrough a bushing 68 with a vertical passage II in a valve housing 18 which is attached to the outside of the side wall ll of the cabinet. The vertical passage 1|, terminates at'the bottom of the housing I8 in a port 12 to which a hose (not shown) may be attached for connection to the hot water faucet of the sink. The upper end of the passage II is formed with a chamber 13 which is adapted to receive a pellet 14 of suitable detergent material. A tapered valve 15 is journaled in the housing 18 and is provided with a passage 16 which controls the flow of water from the port I2 through the passage H to the pellet chamber 13. A handle 11 is attached to the valve I5 to control the operation thereof. A stack 88 is attached to the housing I8 and is positioned at one side of the passage 1|. A slide 82 extends horizontally beneath the stack 88 and over the chamber 13. Theslide 82 is provided with an opening 84 which is adapted to be shifted by movement of the slide from beneath the stack 88 to a position above the chamber 13. The slide 82 slides between side guides 86, top plate 85, and the top surface of the housing 18 and carries near one edge a rack 81. A segmental gear 88 attached to the valve 15 meshes with the rack 81 and is positioned to impart a feeding stroke to the slide 82 when the valve 15- is turned from a closed to an open position and to retract the slide 82 when the valve 15'is closed. In this way a single pellet is fed from the stack 88 to the chamber 13 each time the valve 15 is opened. Gaskets 88 and 8| are mounted in thehousing l8 and in the top plate which is attached to the housing 18 by bolts 84. The gaskets 88 and 9| seal the chamber I3 and prevent escape of liquid therefrom and also wipe the surfaces of the slide 84 to prevent moisture from being transferred to the pellet received from the stack 88 when the slide is retracted. A spring may also be provided to push the pellet from the slide 84 into the chamber 13 if required. A shield having adjustable openings is positioned in the recess 18 to control the amount of water which contacts with the pellet I4. This shield comprises a pair of discs which may be adjusted in accordance I with the temperature and pressure of the water where the device is installed.

Obviously other linkages may be provided for connecting the handle 11 to actuate the slide 82. A rack and gear has been shown merely as illustrative. Also the automatic feed feature may be omitted and the pellets placed in the chamber I3 manually if desired.

The dishes to be cleaned are stacked in a rack of the type shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This rack comprises a frame having bottom ring members IM and I82 secured by radial wires I83. The

It is to be noted that the reaction jet openings wires I83 project beyond the ring member I82 and are formed with vertical extensions I84 to which ring members I85 and I86 are attached. Dish supports I81 are attached to the ring members |8| and I82. The members I81 constitute wire guides 01' substantially inverted U-shape which are inclined to the vertical and to the rad s O he frame so that the dishes which are held between the guides I01 are inclined both vertically and radially thereby facilitating the contact of the spray from the spinners 50 with all parts of the dishes.

For washing table silver a basket, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, may be used. This basket comprises crossed wires forming a mesh bottom 'lllland a mesh side wall Ill, designed so that table as hexametaphosphate, trisodium chloride, or

the like. Such pellets are made in solid form and are of a size such that they will normally be dissolved under washing conditions in from 45 seconds to 1 minute. With the handle in a position to close the valve 15, the slide 82 is positimed to bring the opening 84 beneath the stack 80. It is to be understood of course that the slide is of a thickness such that only one pellet is received from the stack at a time. When the handle 11 is turned to open the valve 16 the slide is actuated by the rack 8'! and segmental gear 88 to feed the pellet into the chamber 13. The pellet is thus brought into the path of the water which is supplied through the valve 15 to the pipes 55 and spinners 50.

The dishes are stacked in the dish rack shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and with the door l3 in open position, as shown in Fig. 11, the tray is rested upon the rails 33, and is then slid into the cabinet to rest upon the runners 34. The door I3 is then closed and the valve opened as above mentioned. Hot water under pressure is thus supplied to the spinners 50 and is discharged through the spray openings 60 and the reaction openings 6|. The reaction jets cause the spinners to rotate and to bring the spray from the openings 60 into contact with all parts of the articles being washed. The water from the faucet to which the device is attached contacts the pellet I4 in the chamber 13 and dissolves the Such pelsame, thereby imparting detergent properties to the water so that the dishes are washed with a detergent action. The adjustment of the shield is such that the pellet dissolves in seconds to 1 minute, after which the continued flow of water rinses the dishes in clear water.

The number of reaction jets 6| which are exposed may be adjusted in accordance with the, water pressure in the particular installation so that the spinners are driven at a proper rate for producing the necessary cleaning and rinsing action.

After the dishes have been completely washed and rinsed as above stated, the valve 15 is closed, thereby shutting oil the water and returning the slide 82 to its original position. The doors l3 may then be opened and the dishes removed. If it is desired to shut ofi the water temporarily without feeding anew pellet to the chamber I3 when the valve is again opened, the handle H is moved to an intermediate position to close the valve without bringing the opening 84 in the slide 82 beneath the stack 80. The water may then .be again turned on by the valve 15 without needing a new pellet to the chamber 13.

-It will be noted that the interlocked tongue .and groove construction above described prevents leakage around the door openings and the bottom flange 29 on the doors protects the hinge line against leakage. Hence special fastening or sealing means which would vinterfere with the free closing and opening of the door are obviated.

With the cabinet placed upon the sink drainhoard the drain water is removed from the drain opening 40 through the trough 45 which, as above stated, may be positioned to extend to any of the four sides of the cabinet so as to conform to the position of the drainboard in the particular installation.

The drain trough may be arranged to be extended beyond the side or the cabinet as required and may be slidably retracted in the guide rails. Obviously the cabinet may be placed on a movable table as required or may be permanently installed in a suitable housing and connected to the water main independently oi. the sink faucets.

Although'a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of various uses and that changes and modifications may be made therein as will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. The invention is only to be restricted in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

' What is claimed is:

1. A dish washin machine comprising a spray nozzle, a water supply duct connected to feed wash water to said nozzle, a chamber communicating with said duct to receive said wash water therefrom on its path to said nozzle, said chamber havin means to hold a. detergent pellet in contact with said wash water, a valve in said duct, a pellet receiver, means successively feeding pellets from said receiver to said chamber, control means for said valve, and means actuated by said control means to actuate said feed means simultaneously therewith.

'2. A dish washing machine comprising a spray nozzle, a water supply duct connected to feed wash water to said nozzle, a chamber communieating with said duct to receive said wash water therefrom on its path to said nozzle, said chamber having means to hold a detergent pellet in contact with said wash water, a pellet receiver displaced from said chamber, a. slide having means feeding said pellets singly from said receiver to said chamber, a rack on said slide, a rotary valve in said duct having a central shaft and a segmental gear on said shaft to actuate said rack so as to feed said pellets simultaneously with the opening of said valve.

3. A dish washing machine comprising a spray nozzle, a water supply duct connected to feed wash water to said nozzle, a chamber communicating with said duct to receive said wash water therefrom on its path to said nozzle, said chamber having means to hold a detergent pellet in contact with said wash water, a pellet receiver displaced from said chamber, a slide having means feeding said pellets singly from said receiver to said chamber, a valve in said duct having an actuating shaft, and means actuated by said shaft to actuate said slide so as to feed said pellets simultaneously with the opening of said valve.

JOHN T. P.LE GORE.

(References on following page) The fol lowing' references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Bradford Feb. 7, 1899 McGee July 8, 1913 Weiss Dec. 1, 1914 Benedict Mar. 21, 1916 10 Masonick Feb. 11, 1919 Lynch Jan. 15, 1922 Number 8 Name Date Kolb Nov. 26, 1929 Poll Feb. 14, 1933 Tatham Mar. 7, 1933 Stoddard Feb. 6, 1934 Replogle Mar. 6, 1934 Kehoe May 14, 1935 Forsyth Dec. 1, 1936 Le Gore June 3, 1941 Clark et a1 Sept. 2, 1941 Ray Sept. 15, 1942 Miller 1. Apr. 27, 1943 

